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Posts
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KC,
I would but I may never get any samples. Talked to rep about 6 weeks ago said they were waiting on the samples. I will be out your way to update boxes……. This from gut I always have to call to get here. So how bad do I want to promote the stuff . Kinda familar good rep good sales bad rep bad sales. Maybe I will be shocked, but I wont hold my breathe
We all have noticed, The manufacturer has introduced a new product, but we are left waiting on the rep to get us the samples, at their convienience. My rep has just mailed me mine, 6 weeks after he told me he was. I have made 3 sales of it in 2 days… So many of you are waiting on the new Tempest samples… how much is this costing Samsung, to rely on the distributors to send these out as onesy and twosy’s? Why can’t the manufacturer just send all the fabricators listed on their info samples, and send extras along with material. to the distributors. I bet they(manufacturers) don’t have a clue how long the distribution takes of their new products. It has to cost them much more in lost sales than what the shipping would be to each fabricator.
Kelsey
FYI.. I was a fabricator for many many years, I am now a salesperson at a Distributor. I have one question and please take this in the vein it is meant. Why would you support a company that is not supporting you? I always gave my business to the people that gave me service. After all, isn’t service the only thing any of us have to sell? From your salesperson’s point of view, why should he worry about giving you good service when you reward his lack there of, by giving him the business anyway? As I have said before, Loyalty is a two way street.
Good point. I believe the distributors and sales staff, make or break a relationship with the fabricators.
Wags,
That is a good point and I have not been promoting the product at all in the last 1 1/2 and pushing the other products that I see the reps on a regular basis. What really cracks me up about some of the reps is when you tell them I would sell more of your product if I saw you at least once a qaurter (knowing that is the usual time they use to cycle through the entire territory) and yet still can not even remember what they look like. SO it goes I am supporting those who support me and that is a lot better feeling.
Reuben
Wags, like I have stated before…Bravo to the term “Loyalty is a 2 way street”. But, in a perfect world, that may not always be true. Quite frankly, it isn’t. Human nature dictates the “what have you done for me lately” mentallity. You can bend over backwards time & time again and with some customers, they just seem like it’s never enough.
Those, I summarily weed out!
Human nature… yeah right. This is my point exactly. If I was manufacturing a product, I would get it into the hands of the fabricator asap! I would not rely on the distributor to get it to the shops, because they should know, most salemen only target the guys that use the most material. (your point) (I bet the guy/saleman that never gave Mory the time of day in the beginning has his tail tucked between his legs now.)
I just got info from Staron to register all the warranties online. The homeowner in case of a problem, contacts Staron, Staron will contact the fabricator… Excuse me… where is the distributor in this loop ??????
Sorry you are still waiting on samples Norm….
Wags,
You are correct in the two-way street bit, but a couple of points:If a Rep thinks a client is more or less a lost cause, after years of trying to sell him, he is more than justified in calling on him less. That’s less, not never, or near-never. I don’t want to see my reps – any of them – for more than once/twice a month. There is one exception, but that’s personal.
The “however” to this is if I have a question that needs an answer, or if there is a new product I want him fast, and I want follow-through. If he fails me on timely responses to any of these, it is not my fault that I conclude that the product is not worth selling, as I have no support for it.Also: that the rep does not see the opportunity, an open door, if you will with a new product launch says much about the rep. He now is armed new information, a new opportunity to sell that client on a product that he has previously balked on. This, of course, requires a new launch that is worth his attention, and a salesperson who actually cares enough to sell it.
If a rep wants to hook in a potentially large acount, he should always set up an appointment, and explain breifly why the meeting. For the smaller, but possibly more flexible account, appeal to my sense of quality, dedication to servicing my customers, and how you can have a major role in all this. You can walk-in, but be prepared.
Tom
Kelsey, please re-read my post. You, obviously are referring to sheet good manufactures and them not being pro-active in getting you fabricators the things you need.
I’m referring to the human nature of loyalty. Some, are loyal. Others would just assume throw you under the bus as look at you.
Again, what does service cost?? IT AINT FREE like some think it is.
When I had my shop I would tell the reps calling on me I didn’t need them to come in twice a month to tell me what a wonderful person I was, I knew that ! But if I had a problem I expected them to take care of it immediately. I think a rep earns his keep when problems arise. Anyone can be a great guy when all is going well. When I first got hired by a distributor I was given a list of customers. One shop I was told dont bother, they only do Corian.. So of course the first place I went was to the “Corian” shop. To this day the only other product he shows in his showroom is mine. I know I won’t sell everyone, nor do I want to. But if its a good account I will continue to call on them, even if they don’t purchase from me. You never know when you may walk in and they just had a problem with some other supplier. I try not to burn bridges but of course, I will be more loyal to those shops that are loyal to me.
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